After the events in the hut and the appearance of his demon markings, InuYasha was watched constantly for any signs that he was losing control, but as soon as the chest rumble had ceased, the markings had dissappeared until the girl was agitated again, which called forth the rumble and with it the markings. InuYasha to be quite honest was a little wierded out himself and was grateful that Kagome at least was able to keep the facade of normality in place, he just wished that Miroku Sango and Shippo woud do the same and quit staring at him as though he was going to explode.

It continued for about two weeks and while the girl was slowly, ever so slowly becoming used to the other people in the travelling group, she still preferred to stick with InuYasha, either being carried on his back or walking alongside him and trying to match his strides with her own. On the sixteenth day of the girl's company and the constant checks on InuYasha's sanity they were surprised by a visit from Myoga. The miniscule flea demon announcing his arrival with the obligatory sucking of InuYasha's blood, and the consequential smackdown as he was slapped from his master's cheek.

"Master InuYasha your blood is as tasty as ever!"

"Myoga what are you up to now?" InuYasha growled, since everytime Myoga turned up he was either running from someone or was going to 'help' InuYasha with his mastery of the Tessaiga.

"What? Is an old flea not permitted a visit to his master every now and then?" Myoga said indignantly, folding his four small arms across his chest. InuYasha only glared at him, prompting the flea to confess. "Alright alright.." the diminutive demon sighed, "I stopped in at Keade's hut to see where you had gone to in search for the jewel shards this time and she informed me that you had aquired another member to the group.. another Hanyou.."

At the word 'Hanyou' the girl's ears twitched and she turned her head in InuYasha's direction. Someone call me? she yipped curiously, her ears turned forward to try and catch the source of the voice she had heard.

InuYasha sighed and shook his head with a smile, Don't worry it's nothing.. go play with Shippo.

The girl looked confused for a moment but shrugged her shoulders before running ahead to where Miroku, Sango and Kagome were walking before she jumped up and tagged Shippo, who was riding in Kagome's bicycle basket, with a happy series of yips and giggles as she took off a bit ahead of the group. Shippo was left stunned for a moment before he realised he was 'it' and jumped down from Miroku's shoulder to give chase.

"What a delightful child!" Myoga crowed, watching the children chase each other across the road and back again. "She reminds me so much of you when you were young Master InuYasha.." he murmered, getting a distant look in his eyes as he remembered times past.

InuYasha glared at the flea, just waiting for him to start blabbing about one embarrassing moment in his life or another... he knew there were a few when he was small but endeavoured not to remember them. But he was surprised when Myoga snapped out of his reverie and turned to look at him seriously.

"She has no family I take it.."

"No.. she sort of stumbled across our path about two weeks ago.. scared the hell out of Kagome in the well.." he added with a smirk, "She's had a tough life... I don't even know how old she is... she could be as old as 50 as far as I know... she doesn't know time, or how many winters she's seen and she only speaks in inu!" InuYasha sighed and ran a clawed hand through his hair.

"Perhaps I can be of some assistance then?" Myoga mused, which only earned him a sceptical look from InuYasha. "I am a flea of many talents and one of them just happens to be blood sampling.. Just one taste and I can tell you her age and where she came from.."

"Keh, I'll believe that when I see it.." InuYasha muttered, but called the girl back over with a quick bark.

All of the games of tag ended with her being 'it' it seemed, whether it be because she was becoming uncomfortable or was called back to InuYasha, but that was no matter to her, it just meant that she could restart the game at any time she wanted. She ran back to InuYasha and panted slightly, holding a hand up to grasp his Kimono sleeve but was surprised when she was lifted off the ground and into his arm. She looked at him curiously before something bit her neck, in a small panic, she clawed the offending insect away from her, which sent Myoga crashing to the ground.

"That was a dumb move Myoga.." InuYasha said as the rumble returned yet again to calm the fretting child. "She's not used to any of that.."

"My apologies Master InuYasha.." the flea said as he pushed himself off the ground and jumped onto InuYasha's shoulder opposide to the arm that was holding the child. "But the smell was so delicious and sweet it just.."

"Myoga..." InuYasha growled, Knowing that the flea was now just looking for an excuse.

"Right.. well.. I can say with definate certainty that she is not 50.. In fact she has barely seen eight winters.. I can also detect that she was born in the northern territories, but I cannot say as to where exactly.. I never spent too much time north.. it was too cold for this old flea.."

As Myoga was talking the girls eyes landed on him and watched intently with ears forward to determine that this was where the voice was coming from before she 'spoke' Friend? she asked, testing the word on her tongue

InuYasha nodded, My whole life. He says sorry for biting you.. he offered, glaring at the flea momentarily before catching the look of shock on Myoga's face, Great.. so he's seen the markings as well.. he thought to himself. Maybe he'll be able to tell me what's going on then..

The girl smiled and yipped her greeting, introducing herself as 'Hanyou' which made InuYasha's heart ache. Introductions completed she asked if she could go and play again, at which point InuYasha let her jump down and run after Shippo again... make that, Shippo's copy, the young fox was getting cleverer in these games.

As soon as she was smiling, the rumble had stopped and the markings dissappeared, Myoga noted with curiosity. "Well, it has been a long time since I have seen that..." he muttered under his breath, knowing full well that InuYasha would hear him anyway he chose to continue without the violent prompt, "Your father used to do that when Lord Sesshomaru was a pup.."

This earned a rather shocked look from InuYasha, who had never really thought of Sesshomaru ever being a pup. "Are you serious?"